When the government makes use of its revenue and expenditure programmes (to achieve the above mentioned goals) and affects the aggregate level of demand for goods and services in the economy, then this action is essentially known as fiscal policy. Related to fiscal policy are deficits and surpluses. When the government’s expenditure exceeds its revenue, then there is a fiscal deficit and the opposite of this is known is fiscal surplus.
What is the difference between fiscal and monetary policies?
Renowned economist Keynes believed that taxes and expenditure decisions, that is fiscal policy, should be used to stabilise the economy. According to him, government should cut taxes and increase spending to bring the economy out of a slump, this kind of a policy action is known is expansionary fiscal policy. On the other hand, government should increase taxes and cut expenditure to bring the economy out of inflationary pressure, that is, it should follow a contractionary fiscal policy. The classical economists however believed that the government can affect the level of output, overall price level and interest rates by determining the level of money supply in the economy. When the central bank uses tools like CRR and repo rate to control the level of money supply to stabilise the economy then it is known as the monetary policy.
How does a fiscal policy affect the economy?
Aggregate demand, which is the total demand for goods and services in the economy, depends on three main variables- consumption, private investment and government spending. When the government increases its expenditure then it spurs the aggregate demand in the economy. A higher aggregate demand in turn will stimulate output, growth and employment. Whereas if the government lowers its spending then it decreases the aggregate demand and hence slows down the growth of the economy.
What is the purpose of the recent fiscal stimulus and what will be its impact on the economy?
The present fiscal stimulus packages are being given away by the government because of the impact of the global financial meltdown on the Indian economy. The global crisis has had a huge impact on our exports, financial markets, production (due to a slowdown in demand) and also on job market to a certain extent. Although most economists believe that we can not do much in terms of own policy action when it comes to exports and exports will continue to suffer until importing economies like US and European Union will recover, but a boost can certainly be given to the domestic demand. Hence present fiscal policy actions aim at stimulating domestic demand and have focus on sectors that provide huge employment. Roughly 70% of our demand is domestic hence the government believes such policy actions should pull out India out of the slowdown.
What is the difference between fiscal and monetary policies?
Renowned economist Keynes believed that taxes and expenditure decisions, that is fiscal policy, should be used to stabilise the economy. According to him, government should cut taxes and increase spending to bring the economy out of a slump, this kind of a policy action is known is expansionary fiscal policy. On the other hand, government should increase taxes and cut expenditure to bring the economy out of inflationary pressure, that is, it should follow a contractionary fiscal policy. The classical economists however believed that the government can affect the level of output, overall price level and interest rates by determining the level of money supply in the economy. When the central bank uses tools like CRR and repo rate to control the level of money supply to stabilise the economy then it is known as the monetary policy.
How does a fiscal policy affect the economy?
Aggregate demand, which is the total demand for goods and services in the economy, depends on three main variables- consumption, private investment and government spending. When the government increases its expenditure then it spurs the aggregate demand in the economy. A higher aggregate demand in turn will stimulate output, growth and employment. Whereas if the government lowers its spending then it decreases the aggregate demand and hence slows down the growth of the economy.
What is the purpose of the recent fiscal stimulus and what will be its impact on the economy?
The present fiscal stimulus packages are being given away by the government because of the impact of the global financial meltdown on the Indian economy. The global crisis has had a huge impact on our exports, financial markets, production (due to a slowdown in demand) and also on job market to a certain extent. Although most economists believe that we can not do much in terms of own policy action when it comes to exports and exports will continue to suffer until importing economies like US and European Union will recover, but a boost can certainly be given to the domestic demand. Hence present fiscal policy actions aim at stimulating domestic demand and have focus on sectors that provide huge employment. Roughly 70% of our demand is domestic hence the government believes such policy actions should pull out India out of the slowdown.
